Page 10 - JanFeb2026 Vol 43 No 6

TENNESSEE PUBLIC WORKS INSTITUTE By John Chlarson, P.E., C.P.M.
Leadership and Administration in PW

The 2025 Leadership and Culture and Effective Delegation; Kimmey, who, along with John Chlarson,
Administration in Public Works Class Preparing for the Future: Trends in is co-chair of the Tennessee Public
of the Tennessee Public Works Institute Public Works, Performance Measurement Works Institute Committee, assisted John
(TPWI) was conducted November and Reporting; Facilities Maintenance Chlarson with the onsite administration
4-7 at the Tennessee Association of and Renewal Planning; Emergency of the class.
Utility Districts Training Station in Management; Project and Capital TPWI looked for and received student
Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Thirty students Program Management; Technology and instructor feedback on this initial
attended the class, representing 21 local and Innovation in Public Works; Fleet offering, with the intent of crafting this
government entities from Memphis to Management; Solid Waste Management: product further between now and the next
Sevierville. Trends, Contracts, and Compliance; time it is presented.
“I truly enjoyed the entire class and
Reimagining the Leadership and Communications, Media, and Public took away a lot of information to move
Engagement; Financial Management
Administration Class for Public Works; Environmental forward in my Public Works career. This
The Leadership and Administration Compliance and Sustainability; Risk class reminded me of why I work in Public
class is a reimagining of the Public Management and Safety; and Pavement Works, everyone supported one another – it
Works Administration class. This was the Management Strategies. felt like family!”
inaugural offering of the class, which was “Having real, experienced professionals
retooled to build on the Basic Supervision Instructors for the Revamped Class in the field of Public Works providing
class and take students to the next level Class instructors included Bryon instruction ensured that training was
by preparing frontline supervisors for Fortner, Blalock and Sons; Chad practical, relevant, and grounded.”
higher leadership roles (and helping those Weth, City of Knoxville; Ethan Skaggs, “Great class for any Public Works
already in those roles to brush up and BHS Concrete; Andy Sanders, City of employee. Very informative.”
fine-tune their skills.) Germantown; Jerramy Wood, City of “All instructors did well, very
Class modules included: Strategic Chattanooga; Emily Harrell, City of knowledgeable - great talking points for an
Planning and Vision for Public Works; Lakeland; Scott Jenkins, City of Knoxville; overall picture of Public Works admin and
Public Works in Government Structure; Shane Snoderly, City of Alcoa; Doug leadership.”
Ethics and Public Trust in Public Works; Tarwater, City of Sevierville; John Eskew, The next TPWI class, Construction
Building and Sustaining Community UT-MTAS; Kenny Wiggins, UT-MTAS; Inspection in Public Works, is scheduled
Partnerships; Leadership; Organizational and John Chlarson, UT-MTAS. Tennessee for March 3-6, 2026.
Public Works Magazine Publisher Klair
10 TPW January/February 2026